Russia toughens anti-terrorism law ahead of Olympics

Russia's parliament passed a bill on Friday imposing prison terms of up to six years on Russians who take part in conflicts abroad, as the government tries to head off potential security threats ahead of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Militants waging an Islamist insurgency in southern Russia's North Caucasus region sympathise with the international jihadists trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. (Reuters)